Career Counselor Salary Guide

Key takeaways

Career counselors advise individuals on the best career path based on their skills, qualifications, interests, and more.

• The median annual salary for career counselors in the US is $65,140 [1].

• Career counselors work in industries such as management and consulting, as well as information technology.

• You can become a career counselor by pursuing certifications, earning a degree, or completing an internship.

Learn more about the salary you can expect to earn as a career counselor and how to get started in this role. Afterward, consider enrolling in the Goodwill Career Coach and Navigator Professional Certificate. In as little as two months, you’ll have the opportunity to explore career possibilities for career navigators and career coaches. Upon completion, you’ll have earned a credential to add to your resume or show potential clients.

What is a career counselor?

A career counselor guides and advises students or individuals seeking employment on potential career paths that best fit their needs, skills, and interests. Career counselors may work in various educational settings, such as schools and colleges, and outside the education industry. You can find career counselors in other fields, such as health care or human resources, in roles like social workers or career coaches.

Career counselors may use aptitude tests to measure an individual’s skills and determine the best career path. The counselor’s goal is to understand more about the client and their history while helping them learn more about themselves and their abilities. Together, they may create goals based on those skills and the individual’s interests, along with a strategy to help them achieve those career goals.

Depending on their client’s age, career counselors may collaborate with teachers, parents, or other caregivers to devise a plan. Career counselors also help to prepare students for transitions into college or into the workforce. You may also work as a career counselor for adults in varying stages of their professional lives. For example, you might help unemployed individuals find a new job or aid those interested in switching careers to find a new path.

Preparation is vital when starting a new career, and career counselors set up students and adults for success by providing them with the resources they’ll need. These resources can range from mock interviews to assistance with writing a resume and cover letter. The goal of a career counselor is to help people find what motivates them, gain employment, and stay in a career that meets their financial needs and interests. Part of the job of a career counselor, then, is to help people apply for jobs and identify job openings.

Another important part of a career counselor’s role is identifying factors hindering someone from meeting academic or professional goals. Career counselors may find and discuss behavior patterns or habits with individuals and offer assistance in overcoming those negative behaviors. Like a therapist, a career counselor will establish a relationship with their client to assess long-term strategy goals and motivations.

Read more: How to Become a Therapist: Duties, Pay, Degrees and More

What is the salary of a career counselor?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for career counselors in 2024 was $65,140 annually [1]. This means the median career counselor salary per hour stands at $31.32 per hour [1]. The highest-earning 10 percent of career counselors in the US earn a median salary of $105,870 annually, while the lowest-earning 10 percent earn $43,580 [2].

What is the average career counselor’s salary? 

According to various job listing sites, career counselors earn an average of $44,870 to $84,000 in annual pay. Five different organizations give salary ranges for career counselors as [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]:

Remember, the amount you will ultimately earn depends on various factors. Your education level, professional experience, where you work, and the industry you work in all impact the wages you can anticipate.

What is the difference between a career coach and a career counselor?

While similar, career coaches and career counselors typically provide different resources to clients. Career counselors typically help you figure out what your career goals are based on your personality and interests, while career coaches help you determine how to meet those goals.

Factors that affect career counselor salary

Your salary as a career counselor may be affected by multiple factors, including where you work and live, your qualifications, the degrees and certifications you hold, and your professional experience. Understanding these factors better can help you calculate your average earnings as a career counselor. 

Education

According to Zippia, 60 percent of career counselors hold a bachelor’s degree, while 23 percent have a master’s [7]. Another 12 percent have earned an associate degree, and 2 percent hold just a high school diploma [7].

On average, a career counselor with a master’s degree earns $49,014 a year, whereas a career counselor with a bachelor’s degree earns $42,779 a year [7]. You’ll also earn slightly more if you have a doctorate, at an average annual salary of $49,844, annually [7].

While some career counselors step into career counseling with a bachelor’s degree, it’s important to note that you’ll often need to gain licensure or certification as a career counselor in your state. Because every state has unique requirements for career counselors, research what your state mandates to ensure you get all the necessary education, training, and credentials. State certification or licensure programs typically require applicants to hold a master’s degree, complete an internship, and pass an exam. As part of the licensure or certification process, applicants must complete a certain number of hours of professional experience.

For example, to earn certification as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), you’ll need to complete a minimum of 3,000 hours of postgraduate counseling work experience over two years. Earning additional certifications is one of the best ways to increase your pay grade as a career counselor. 

Experience

Gaining work experience as a career counselor positively affects your chances of getting hired. Experience can boost your earning potential compared to other candidates with less professional experience.

Completing internships and practicums as part of your advanced degree program helps your chances of getting into an entry-level career position and gaining experience in job placement roles and employment services. These positions are ideal for gaining professional experience if you’re near graduating from college with your bachelor’s or master’s degree.

The type of experience may also matter, and sometimes depends on the school or organization you want to work for. For example, some schools may prefer to hire career counselors with some teaching experience and a teaching license.

Here’s a look at how different levels of experience can affect your salary*, according to Glassdoor [4]:

• Entry level (0–1 year): $66,000

• Mid-level (4–6 years): $79,000

• Senior level (10–14 years): $89,000 

*All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of February 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Industry

Your salary as a career counselor varies by the industry in which you work and your employer. The top-paying industries for career counselors include government and public administration, human resources, information technology, education, and management and consulting.

According to Glassdoor, the median annual total income for the highest-paying industries for career counselors are [4]:

• Government and public administration: $84,510 

• Management and consulting: $68,647 

• Education: $66,730

• Information technology: $64,232

• Human resources and staffing: $62,951

Location

Where you live and work as a career counselor impacts your earning potential. Factors such as demand for services and industry trends affect how much you may earn based on where you’re employed as a career counselor. To better understand how much you may earn based on location, look at job search boards. Use the location feature to compare salaries by location for career counselors to get a clearer picture of what you might earn in your area as a career counselor.

These are the top five highest-paying states for career counselors according to the BLS [8]:

1. Virginia: $106,560

2. District of Columbia: $84,720

3. North Dakota: $80,780

4. New Jersey: $78,050

5. Maryland: $73,680

Career counselor salary by location: Top 5 highest-paying cities 

According to the BLS, these cities are among the highest-paying metropolitan areas within the US for career counselors [8].

Job outlook

The BLS states that career counselor jobs are growing at an average rate. According to their projections, educational, guidance, and career counseling can expect a 4 percent growth from 2024 to 2034, adding an estimated 31,000 openings over that decade [9]. Some reasons for this high growth rate are an increased need for career assistance and planning resources for students and a continued rise in learner enrollment.

Schools and universities that want to provide these resources to students about to graduate may open career centers or hire career counselors to have staff to meet these needs. Career counselors may also help veterans transition into the civilian workforce, assist people who experienced a layoff to find work, or work with someone who wants a career change. 

No-fluff help for when you’re stuck

Subscribe to our Career Chat newsletter on LinkedIn to receive career insights, resume-building skills, and job search tips right to your inbox. Then explore free digital resources for professional growth:

• Watch on YouTube: Career Change at 30: Why It’s Actually the PERFECT Time (5-Step Guide)

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?

• Learn from experts: Meet the Automotive Tech Exploring New Careers with Coursera Plus

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